Thomas LAURENCE owned shares in a sloop, called ‘Alpha’, that exported corn to Hull, importing coal on the return journey. 

According to local newspaper reports the sloop “Alpha” under Mark AARON’s Captainship also transported coal and goods to Wisbech, Cambridgeshire from Goole returning with corn and fruit. Goole to Wisbech converted to statutory miles is 127.16. Hull to Louth is 32.86. Both would take a few days I reckon. Then there is loading time to add.

One example I have found in the local newspapers. The Alpha under Mark AARON in the Leeds Intelligencer, 18/06/1842, for period June 9-16 coasters inwards for Wisbech with coal, then Lincolnshire Chronicle, 24/06/1842, sailed for Goole with corn and fruit.      

         The `Alpha`, official number (14410) In the Goole shipping register, NSG/3 page 11, entry relating to ‘Alpha’ dated Jul 1841, the Registration number/year is 30/1841 and name of master: Mark AARON. It states it was built in Thorne in 1841 by William ATKINSON as a sloop. The names of owners at time of registration were Mark AARON, Thorne, master mariner, Thomas LAWRENCE, Louth, merchant, John Booth SHARPLEY, Louth, merchant. Last entry: includes entries to 1854.

Other sections include: burthen: 43 2481 over 3500 tons, Surveying Officer: Thomas Parry TIDE, number of decks: one, number of masts: one, length from inner part of the Main Stem to the fore part of the Stern aloft is 5 feet, breadth in Midships is 13 feet, depth in the hold at Midships is 6 feet one tenth, type of bowsprit: round, number of shares for each owner: Mark had 22, Thomas and John 21 each to make up the 64 shares that were had in a vessel.

Mark had the controlling shares, so Goole to Wisbech and back may well have been his own.

William Atkinson (19 Mar 1787-Sept 1854) was from a shipbuilding family, canal side, Thorne, nr. Doncaster. Mark AARON (1791-6 July 1865), also had a son of same name (1828-1874), who took over captainship of ‘Alpha’.

In 1848, Thomas sold his shares back to John Booth SHARPLEY, who in turn in 1867, sold the ship to William BELL of Hull. Tom LAURENCE became insolvent in 1851.

Sloops mainly handled bulk cargoes between the Humber ports, carrying farm produce from Lincolnshire, coal from the West Riding, bricks and tiles between both sides, cement and chalk stone from Barton and South Ferriby to Hull and transhipping phosphates back to the fertiliser works. In summer the sea going trade would be to Louth, Saltfleet, the ports of the Wash and on south to the Thames, to the north trade would be to Bridlington, the Tyne and all ports between.

Louth Navigation Trust (http://www.louthcanal.org.uk/)
are doing a brilliant job of researching the canal, recording its history and looking after the canal itself

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